A dialogue with Socrates

Write a two page dialogue between Socrates and a person of your choosing that accomplishes the following:

Identify a belief. For example, you might choose a religious belief, a moral value, or a political position. It can be a belief you yourself hold or one you have seen professed by other people.

Provide reasons for that belief.

Analyze the reasons using the Socratic method, as Socrates does with Thrasymachus views on justice in the Republic. Refer to the list of fallacies in the textbook to see if the reasons include any logical inconsistencies that might be used to challenge the belief.

Solution Preview

Dear Student,
Hi and thank you for using the Brainmass. The solution below should get you started. Remember, a Socratic dialogue is usually a dialogue between a teacher and a student or between individuals debating about opposing viewpoints. It is in the process of debate that ideas are illuminated, positions are weighed. This is a dialectic approach in which opposing ideas give way to a more established position. This dialectic method has been employed by Plato in his work 'The Republic' where Socrates, his teacher engages in debate with students, philosophers and individuals whose ideas are different from his establishing a particular philosophical position. This solution has taken up a moral value that is of keen interest and importance in society so it should be a familiar debate. You can also use the listed references for further exploration of the topic under debate as well as the Socratic Method itself. The solution below is a creative interpretation. Joe uses the 'kettle logic' fallacy at most times while Socrates here is guilty of 'post hoc ergo prompter hoc' at most times. To get Joe talking he also utilises the red herring 'appeal to flattery', 'appeal to emotion' and 'appeal to motive'. In the end however, Socrates concludes the dialogue with his points put across to Joe who seem to have seen the injustice in his actions. Good luck with your studies. If you have any questions about it, just let me know.

The following simulated debate takes place between Socrates and Joe. Socrates presents the position that welfare, while necessary should not eclipse the importance of self-development and in the case of the modern economy, self development is the pursuit of becoming the best version of one's self, professionally and personally. He forwards that this is the realization of the human promise, in line with his position in relation to human virtues. To grow as a populace, to develop, he purposes for the growth of a sense of community; and, while it is completely acceptable to provide for those in need, for the least members of society, it is everyone's duty to self to persevere, to realize one's potentials and to achieve to honor one's self. As such, becoming dependent on the welfare system is an anti-thesis of this view as it does not move society forward.

About Joe

Joe, a long-time Dole (welfare system) abuser has become a master at exploiting loopholes that has allowed him to sustain himself and his family through the years. Joe had a promising career as a car salesman but if there was something he cannot abide by, it is the long hours and the responsibility of keeping to task. In a competitive sales environment, Joe's inability to achieve and refusal to do blue collar work has resulted in him looking at ways, easier ways to maintain himself and his family. As such he often looked for shortcuts and he found that in the welfare system. His wife Jean started claiming disability and unemployment benefits when she was 19 claiming some form of phobia stops her from being around people. For this she receives around $700 a month. Joe has claimed disability for the brief time he has served in the army (about 2 years) in the first Gulf War. By ...

Solution Summary

The solution provides information, advise and assistance to the student in putting together an assignment that asks a student to create a dialogue between Socrates and an imagined person on a public issue (which in this case is social benefits and dole dependence). Resources are listed for further exploration of the topic. A word version of the solution is also attached.

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